The Cookie Lady and her Crumbs packed up and shipped 1,589 dozen homemade cookies and other treats Wednesday. Counting, packing, taping and stacking were, from left, Margot Gilbert, Geri Eicholz, Ellen Cleaves, Chris Carroll, Jill Arneman, Judy Fennell, Vera Cloud, Cookie Lady Jeanette Cram – founder of Treat the Troops, Linda Bemister, Mary Ann Compher, Sherrie Sauer, Barbara Burke, Nadyne Ulicny, Alora McAlister and Ann Reeves. Laura McCandless, right in the green shirt, received one of the boxes from this group when she was in the U.S. Army and operating a post office in Afghanistan four years ago.

Jill Arneman, left, Sherrie Sauer, Vera Cloud and Mary Ann Compher found out Laura McCandless was a recipient of a Treat the Troops box they shipped to Afghanistan four years ago. McCandless, while walking her dog, Kelly, near her home in Hilton Head Plantation, came across the women who were preparing yet another shipment of cookies to the troops overseas.

In 2006, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Laura McCandless received a box of cookies addressed to her personally while she was operating the unit post office in Afghanistan.

She had no idea who sent them, how they got her name or why she got them, but she was most appreciative for the bounty and shared it with her troops.

Two days ago, McCandless' dog Kelly found those who sent that care package. It turned out the same group - Treat the Troops - was busy preparing another shipment of boxes in Jeanette Cram's driveway in Hilton Head Plantation, down the street and around the corner from where McCandless now lives.

"We were just out walking and he headed toward the hubbub," McCandless explained to the women at Cram's house. "My sister lives here and she kept telling me about the 'Cookie Lady'."

Her sister no doubt gave McCandless' name to Cram, who added it to the list of requests from chaplains, medics and others who want to do something nice for troops on the front line.

Cram's been doing this since 1990 when she heard then-President George H.W. Bush read a letter from a soldier to his mother saying to send cookies and letters.

"I said 'I can do that'," Cram recalled. And do it she has, in a very major way: Cram is the founder of "Treat the Troops," a cookie-baking, treat-bagging, box-stuffing, goodie-shipping organization that has spread to 35 states and is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. With the help of several neighbors and the contributions of groups like the Sun City Crumbs - people who bake cookies and then gather to pack and ship them out - nearly 2.3 million cookies have been mailed to U.S. service members - most of whom get little or no mail.

Many of the Crumbs keep up with the now-nationwide organization, even when they move.

"I got involved when I lived in Florida and ran a Crumbs for three years," said Barbara Burke who now lives on Hilton Head. "When I moved here, I just picked up where I left off. We do it all ourselves; we're all volunteers."

Linda Bemister was in Cram's kitchen dividing bags of homemade cookies into larger bags. Each of the larger bags went into a box being prepared in the garage.

Bemister lives in Sun City and many of her neighbors contribute to the effort.

"I have about 15 bakers on my street and then another 10 or 12 in my neighborhood," she said.

In this shipment, the troops will get Rice Krispies treats donated by Food Lion staff, small bags of Starbucks coffee donated by Starbucks and customers, wreaths with three pounds of candy pieces individually tied to embroidery hoops and a selection of cookies - from chocolate chip to oatmeal raisin to peanut butter - as well as personal letters from the senders.

A box of Christmas stockings is also headed to the front, the cheery red decorations stuffed with more goodies - something that might brighten the tents and tanks of troops far from home.

For many at home it's a way they can contribute and let the service members know they are supported. For others like Bemister, it's very personal.

"I had a brother who was killed in Vietnam. They weren't treated very well back then," she said. "I made a personal vow then that any time I could do something for the troops I would."

The aroma of fresh-baked cookies in the kitchen was tantalizing and knowing full well how they will be appreciated keeps the ladies going.

The selections vary and the women try to stretch everything as far as they can. They know from the letters, cards and e-mails they get in return that once a box is open, the goods go in all directions.

"Today, I received a wonderful package full of delicious cookies, candy, drink mixes, handy wipes and letters of encouragement. What a wonderful and thoughtful way to remember those of us that are serving overseas. I immediately opened the package and started to separate everything for distribution. I put the cookies in a separate box for my Marines to enjoy with their next meal. Of course, the bags of candy and gum were distributed out as well. Although we Marines try our best to stay in shape, not too many can turn down homemade cookies and candy, especially from home. I can assure you that they will be enjoyed thoroughly!!

...Thank you again for all of YOUR service to our country through your support."

Cram has binders full of such notes, cards and photos from grateful troops who appreciate the touch of home. She keeps them in what she calls the "soldier's corner" in her living room where she displays many of the unit coins, hats and photos mailed back to her.

"It gives people who bake a good feeling. It's just a simple thing but they like it because they can do it in their home," Cram said. "People are good."

The baking is the easy part. Shipping is more involved but is very much a party for Cram's crew of cookie packers. The greatest challenge - with the exception of finding a corporate sponsor - is raising money for shipping. The cost for large flat rate boxes for the military increased this year to $12.50, and the small and medium boxes flat rate increased to $10.70.

The November shipment - which included 1,589 dozen cookies - will cost nearly $4,000, partly because it is combined with December's shipment as well.

"We do December's now because the mail is so slow then," Cram said. "We usually average $1,000 a month here, but we manage to make it. Sometimes smaller 'Crumbs' can't handle the postage so they send us their receipts and I try to find ways to get them reimbursed."

No matter who pays the postage - and all contributions are gratefully received - the Cookie Lady keeps the U.S. Postal Service busy picking up the monthly shipments, and puts smiles on the faces of the recipients like McCandless.

The retired soldier will walk Kelly through the neighborhood past the source of her long-remembered cookie package.

"I told her 'You can just walk by here the first Monday of every month and drop off some cookies'," Cram said.

The Crumb spouses are as supportive of their Crumbs as the Crumbs are of the troops.

"The ingredients come out of the 'grocery money,' their homes are used as storage/collection points, they share their Crumb with Treat the Troops and the soldiers," she said. "The spouses need to be recognized.

"I am nothing without the Crumbs. This story is not about me, it is about them, our soldiers and a passion to do something to let the soldiers know that they are remembered."